A series of new guides have launched offering practical help to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking business opportunities in the emerging green retrofit market.
Launched by independent charity the
Institute for the Sustainability, the guides are initially aimed at
SME tradespeople and professionals working in London’s
built environment sector and offer step-by-step guidance and best practice advice on a wide range of
low carbon retrofit topics. According to the Institute, the guides draw on leading academic and industry expertise. Their primary purpose is to help
SMEs exploit the UK domestic retrofit market – a sector expected to mushroom into a £200 to £500 billion industry over the next 40 years as the UK Government embarks on a massive programme to insulate the country’s existing housing stock.
"Retrofitting
buildings is one of the biggest jobs and growth opportunities in the UK," Ian Short, chief executive at the Institute for Sustainability said. "To make such large-scale changes, we need equally significant transformation in the industry. Built environment businesses need to learn new ways of doing things but perhaps more importantly understand how the low carbon agenda can mean new business and a higher turnover."
What the guides cover
Entitled 'Building Opportunities for Business: Low Carbon Domestic Retrofit’, the guides include advice and best practice on planning and managing low carbon retrofit projects; funding and procurement; managing energy,
waste, water and on-going maintenance; and how to market retrofit services.
They underpin the Green Deal, the Government’s flagship
energy efficiency programme launching in the autumn. The Green Deal aims to insulate 14 million homes between now and 2020 and at its peak could support 250,000 jobs, according to the Government.
FLASH programme
The guides have been funded through the £10 million FLASH programme, which is being managed by the Institute for Sustainability. FLASH is a free programme initially supporting SMEs working in London’s built environment, including architects, surveying and engineering practices, small builders, plumbers and electricians. It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in collaboration with the Technology Strategy Board.
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